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The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) will determine this Friday whether a decision by the Victorian Police to deny access to photos that could clear gay convicted killer Jamie Koeleman should be overturned. Koeleman was sentenced to 19 years’ imprisonment for the murder of 60-year old Francis Arnoldt, whose body was found near a Brunswick beat in 1991. Koeleman’s advocates believe the photos show injuries that are consistent with the victim’s body being picked up and dumped at the site where the body was found. Fritz Maaten, author of Justice for Jamie – The Mistaken Incarceration of Jamie Koeleman, says the images prove Arnoldt was killed prior to being carried by two assailants to the Brunswick park and dumped. “These photos mysteriously went missing after the trial, and we applied for copies, but the police denied us,” he said. Victorian Police argue the release of the photos would cause distress to Arnoldt’s existing relatives, however Maaten says both the victim’s parents are deceased, he has no siblings and that his partner of 20 years is also deceased. Attorney-General Robert Hulls invited Maaten to make a submission to enable an investigation into the case which could lead to Koeleman’s release. Maaten has commissioned independent forensic pathologist Dr Byron Collins to prepare a report as part of a submission for a premiers pardon for Koeleman. However, Collins has been unable to complete his report due to the lack of photographic evidence. The case goes before VCAT November 15 at 10am.
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